Method of and apparatus for pumping



May 11, 1965 w. B. PRICE 3,182,602

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING Filed Sept. 16, 1963 United States Patent 3,182,602 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING William B. Price, 1111 E. Jefferson St., Bloemington, Ill. Filed Sept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 309,261 11 Claims. (Cl. 103-152) This invention relates to pumps of the type in which fluid being pumped flows through a flexible walled tube. The general object of the invention is to provide a novel tube pump which, compared to similar pumps used heretofore, is less expensive, is simpler and more reliable in operation and is easier to maintain.

Another object is to manipulate a flexible walled tube in a novel manner to achieve a fluid pumping action easily and inexpensively without compressing the tube and without the use of mechanical valves.

Another object is to achieve a valve and pumping action by cyclically bending the tube, advancing the bend along the tube, and unbending the tube.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of manipulating the tube to achieve a reliable pumping action in successive cycles over prolonged periods of time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a pump embodying the novel features of the present invention, some parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary views similar to FIG. 1 and showing successive positions of the pump parts in a pumping cycle.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGS. 1-4 and showing the pump parts in another position, the support being shown in section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a reduced sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

While the invention is susceptible of Various modifications and alternative constructions and uses, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail preferred apparatus and method steps. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure. Rather, I aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions and methods falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The improved method and apparatus illustrated in the drawings are especially suite-xi for the pumping of fluids through an elongated tube 10 of a resilient material such as rubber. One material found to be suitable is surgical gum-latex. In general, the invention contemplates manipulating adjacent sections of the tube to cause a fluid flow from an inlet end portion 11 of the tube to an outlet end portion 12 without valves having moving parts and without flattening or compressing of the tube between parts engaging its exterior. The inlet end portion is connected to a suitable supply (not shown) of the fluid to be pumped and the outlet end portion is connected to a part to which it is desired to pump the fluid.

In its broader aspects, the improved method contemplates moving adjacent sections of the tube 10 relative to each other and laterally of the tube to form a bend, crimp or kink 13 to close the tube at least partially at a point spaced from the outlet end portion 12 (FIG. 1). By further relative movement of the two sections, this bend is advanced along the length of the tube and toward the outlet end portion (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) to force ahead of it any fluid in the tube as well as reduce the pressure within the tube behind it so as to cause a flow of fluid along the tube inwardly from the inlet end portion.

3,18Zfifi2 Patented May 11, 1965 After the bend has reached a position adjacent the outlet end portion, the tube is extended to open the bend (FIG. 5) and the cycle is repeated with a bend being reformed adjacent the point of formation of the previous bend.

During extension of the tube 10 to open it after com-- pletion of the advance of each bend 13 toward the outlet end portion 12, there is some tendency for a reverse flow of fluid within the tube. While the cycle is repeated fast enough in correlation with the inertia of the fluid to achieve a greater forward flow toward the outlet end than reverse flow, the tendency of reverse flow preferably is reduced by forming a second bend 14 between the first bend 13 and the inlet end portion 11 of the tube and advancing and opening this bend in a sequence with the first bend.

In one sequence shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the second bend 14 begins to form (FIGS. 2 and 3) adjacent the inlet end portion 11 of the tube after the first bend 13 is formed and while the first bend is advancing toward the outlet end portion 12. Subsequently in the cycle and as the section of the tube adjacent the outlet end is being extended to open the first bend (FIGS. 4 and 5) the second bend is advanced along the tube toward a central portion 15 of the tube between the bends and the end portions. During such advance, pressure in the tube behind the second bend is reduced to cause a fluid flow following the bend. After the section of the tube adjacent the outlet end portion has been extended as shown in FIG. 5 and as the first bend 13 is being reformed in the cycle, the other section of the tube adjacent the inlet portion is extended as shown in FIG. 1 to open the second bend 14 and permit the fluid behind it to flow behind the first bend which is advancing at that time. As this cycle is repeated, fluid flows substantially continuously from the inlet end portion, through the tube and out of the outlet portion.

To insure complete opening of the each bent portion of the tube at a rapid recycling rate, the invention contemplates stretching such portion lengthwise as it is extended. With this manipulation, the tube is forced to return to its original open cross-sectional area in each cycle at a higher rate of speed than would be allowed by its normal elasticity. The stretching, in effect, might be considered as overcoming the inertia of the tube material.

It will be apparent that the improved pumping method described above may be practiced with various configurations of the tube It and with various relative motions of the adjacent tube sections to obtain the successive closing, advance and opening of bends-in the tube. Thus, while a configuration such as an L-shape or a Z-shape may be used with a reciprocating, elliptical or predetermined irregular actuating movement, it is preferred to use a U-shaped configuration with a circular actuating motion as shown in the drawings. This arrangement not only provides the desired pumping action With few parts and in a simple manner, but also, it may be adjusted easily for different flow rates.

In the illustrated pump, the end portions 11 and 12 of the tube 10 are secured in fixed parallel relation to opposite walls 16 of a U-shaped support or housing 17 by clamps 18. Each clamp in this instance is simply a circular strip of metal encircling the tube and having flat end portions overlapping each other and apertured to re ceive bolts 19 which extend through apertures 20 in the support walls 16 and receive nuts 21 for securing them to the walls. A similar clamp 22 connects the central or intermediate portion 15 of the tube to an actuating element 23 by which the parts of the tube are manipulated. The actuating motion being circular in the present instance, this element conveniently may take the form of a crank or a wheel as shown, the intermediate clamp having an F eccentric pivotal connection 24 with the wheel at a point spaced from the wheel axis. Herein, the wheel is fast on one end of a shaft 25 journaled in a bearing 26 on the rear wall 27 of the support and carrying a drive means such as a pulley 28 on its other end. With this arrangement, the axis of the wheel is spaced approximately equal distances from the tube end portions or legs 11 and 12 of the U and extends transversely of the plane of these end portions, The pulley is connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) for rotating the Wheel and imparting the desired actuating motion to the tube.

To stretch each section of the tube between the intermediate portion and the respective end portions 11 and 12 during each cycle, the spacing between the intermediate clamp 22 and each of the end clamps 18 when they are farthest apart in each cycle is slightly greater than the relaxed or original length of the intervening section of tubing. The clamps frictionally grip the tubing so as to avoid lengthwise movement of the tubing relative to the clamps even during the stretching. To assist in such gripping, the interior wall of each tubing section encircled by a clamp may be backed by a short section of coiled spring (not shown) or the inner sides of the clamp may be covered with a friction material such as the same rubber from which the tube is formed.

The rate of fluid flow in the improved pump may be changed in various ways. One way is to vary the speed of rotation of the actuating Wheel 23. Another is to change the length of the stroke of the pump, that is, the distance through which the first bend 13 is advanced along the tube after its formation and before it is opened by extending the tube. For this purpose, the clamp 18 for the outlet end portion 12 may be made shiftable in the plane of the tube as by extending the aperture 20 for its bolt 19 to form a slot (FIG. 5). Also, the inlet end clamp 18 maybe adjustably mounted in a similar manner and the position of the intermediate clamp 22 along the tube or with respect to the shaft of the actuating element may be shifted to adjust the pumping action. Further, if desired, the wheel may carry a counterweight (not shown) opposite the intermediate clamp pivot 24 to achieve smooth operation.

It will be apparent that the improved pump and method provide an elfective pumping action using a flexible walled tube without complicated valves and without fiattening of the tube between parts engaging its exterior. The pump has been found to be effective even with liquids carrying solids such as sand, hair and other foreign matter. Not only is it simple to operate with a low power input, but also, the pump is easy to maintain and may be constructed easily and inexpensively of few parts.

I claim:

1. In a pump, the combination of a support, an elongated tube of resilient material, clamps securing spaced inlet and outlet end portions of said tube to said support in laterally spaced generally parallel relation to form a U with such portions constituting legs of the U, a rotary member mounted on said support to rotate about an axis extending transversely of the plane of said legs and spaced substantially equidistantly from the legs, and an intermediate clamp secured to said tube at a point approximately equidistant from said inlet and outlet clamps and pivotally connected to said rotary member at a point spaced from said axis whereby, when the member is rotated unidirectionally, the portions of the tube between the intermediate clamp and the respective inlet and outlet clamps, are alternately bent and extended to form bends which shift along the tube and to open such bends in a sequence to cause a fluid flow from said inlet portion to said outlet portion, the maximum spacing between said intermediate clamp and the respective inlet and outlet clamps in each revolution of said member being greater than the lengths of the tube between such clamps in the relaxed condition of the tube so that each tube length is stretched longitudinally as the length is extended to open the bend in the length.

2. In a pump, the combination of a support, an elongated tube of resilient material, clamps securing spaced inlet and outlet end portions of said tube to said support in laterally spaced generally parallel relation to form a U with such portions constituting legs of the U, a rotary member mounted on said support to rotate about an axis extending transversely of the plane of said legs and spaced substantially equidistantly from the legs, and an intermediate clamp secured to said tube at a point approximately equidistant from said inlet and outlet clamps and pivotally connected to said rotary member at a point spaced from said axis whereby, when the member is rotated unidirectionally, the portions of the tube between the intermediate clamp and the respective inlet and outlet clamps, are alternately bent and extended to form bends which shift along the tube and to open such bends in a sequence to cause a fluid flow from said inlet portion to said outlet portion.

3. In a pump, the combination of a support, an elongated tube of resilient material, clamps securing spaced inlet and outlet end portions of said tube to said support in laterally spaced generally parallel relation to form a U with such portions constituting legs of the U, an actuating member mounted on said support for cyclical movement, and an intermediate clamp secured to said tube at an intermediate point between said inlet and outlet clamps and connected to said actuating member, said member and said inter-mediate clamp following a predeter-mined path to cause the portions of the tube between the intermediate clamp and the respective inlet and outlet clamps to be bent and extended alternately to form bends which shift along the tube and to open such bends in a sequence to cause a fluid flow from said inlet portion to said outlet portion.

4. In a pump, the combination of a support, an elongated tube of resilient material, clamps securing spaced inlet and outlet end portions of said tube to said support in spaced relation, an actuating member mounted on said support for cyclical movement, and an intermediate clamp secured to said tube at a point between said inlet and outlet clamps and connected to said actuating member, said member and said intermediate clamp following a predetermined path to cause the portions of the tube between the intermediate clamp and the respective inlet and outlet clamps to be bent and extended alternately to form bends which shift along the tube and to open such bends in a sequence to cause a fluid flow from said inlet portion to said outlet portion.

5. A pump having, in combination, a support, an elongated tube of resilient material, means securing said tube to said support at a first point along the length of the tube, an actuating member mounted on said support for cyclical movement, and a connection between said actuating member and said tube at a second point along the tube spaced from said first point, said actuating member being movable along a predetermined path extending different distances from said first point first to cause a bend to be formed in said tube at a third point spaced from said first point for closing the tube at least partially, next to advance the bend toward the first point, next to extend the tube and open the bend, and then to reform the bend adjacent said third point in a sequence to produce a pumping action, a part of said path being spaced from said first point a greater distance than the length of said tube between the first and second points in a relaxed condition of the tube whereby the tube is stretched lengthwise during each cycle of movement of the actuating member.

6. A pump having, in combination, a support, an elongated tube of resilient material, means securing said tube to said support at a first point along the length of the tube, an actuating member mounted on said support for cyclical movement, and a connection between said actuating member and said tube at a second point along the tube spaced from said first point, said actuating member being movable along a predetermined path extending different distances from said first point first to cause a bend to be formed in said tube at a third point spaced from said first point for closing the tube at least partially, next to advance the bend toward the first point, next to extend the tube and open the bend, and then to reform the bend adjacent said third point in a sequence to produce a pumping action.

7. A method of pumping fluid through an elongated tube of resilient material having spaced inlet and outlet portions and a central portion intermediate such portions, said method comprising frictionally gripping the exterior of the tube at said inlet, outlet and central portions and cyclically moving the central portion angularly with respect to the other portions to repeat the steps of forming a bend adjacent the central portion and in a first section of the tube between that portion and the outlet portion to close the tube at least partially, advancing the bend along the tube toward the outlet portion, forming a second similar bend in the tube adjacent the inlet portion and in a second section of the tube between the inlet and central portions after the formation of the first bend and advancing the same toward the central portion during the advance of the first bend, unbending and stretching the first section of the tube lengthwise to open the section while retaining the second bend in the second section of the tube, reforming the bend in the first section adjacent the central portion after stretching of the first section, and unbending and stretching the second section lengthwise to open the section after the reformation of the bend in the first portion.

8. A method of pumping fiuid through an elongated tube of resilient material having spaced inlet and outlet portions and a central portion intermediate such portions, said method comprising frictionally gripping the exterior of the inlet, outlet and central portions and cyclically shifting the central portion bodily with respect to the other portions to repeat the steps of forming a bend adjacent the central portion and in a first section of the tube between that portion and the outlet portion to close the tube at least partially, advancing the bend along the tube toward the outlet portion, forming a second similar bend in the tube adjacent the inlet portion and in a second section of the tube between the inlet and central portions after the formation of the first bend and advancing the same toward the central portion during the advance of the first bend, unbending the first section of the tube to open the section while retaining the second bend in the second section of the tube, reforming the bend in the first section adjacent the central portion, and unbending the second section to open the section after the reformation of the bend in the first portion.

9. In a method of pumping fluid through an elongated tube of resilient material having spaced inlet and outlet portions, frictionally gripping the exterior of a part of said tube intermediate said portions and moving the part bodily with respect to the portions to repeat the steps of forming a bend in the tube adjacent a point intermediate such portions to close the tube at least partially, advancing the bend along the tube in a direction away from the inlet portion and toward the outlet portion, unbending the tube and stretching the tube lengthwise between the inlet and outlet portions to restore the original cross-section and open the tube, and repeating the cycle starting with the step of reforming a bend in the tube adjacent the intermediate point.

10. In a method of pumping fluid through an elongated tube of resilient material having spaced inlet and outlet portions and a part intermediate such portions, bodily moving said intermediate part relative to said inlet and outlet portions cyclically to repeat the steps of forming a bend in the tube adjacent a point intermediate such portions to close the tube at least partially, advancing the bend along the tube in a direction away from the inlet portion and toward the outlet portion, unbending the tube to open the tube, and repeating the cycle starting with the step of reforming a bend in the tube adjacent the intermediate point.

11. A method of pumping fluid through an elongated flexible tube having spaced inlet and outlet portions, said method comprising cyclically moving adjacent parts of said tube bodily relative to each other to repeat the steps of forming a bend in the tube adjacent a point intermediate the inlet and outlet portions to close the tube at least partially, advancing the bend along the tube toward the outlet portion and to a position adjacent the outlet portion, unbending the tube to open the tube adjacent the outlet portion, and finally reforming the bend adjacent the 7 intermediate point.

References Eited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,485 8/46 Arnold 103-149 

1. IN A PUMP, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORT, AN ELONGATED TUBE OF RESILIENT MATERIAL, CLAMPS SECURING SPACED INLET AND OUTLET END PORTION OF SAID TUBE TO SAID SUPPORT IN LATERALLY SPACED GENERALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO FORM A U WITH SUCH PORTION CONSTITUTING LEGS OF THE U, A ROTARY MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT TO ROTATE ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE PLANE OF SAID LEGS AND SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANTLY FROM THE LEGS, AND AN INTERMEDIATE CLAMP SECURED TO SAID TUBE AT A POINT APPROXIMATELY EQUIDISTANT FROM SAID INLET AND OUTLET CLAMPS AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTARY MEMBER AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID AXIS WHEREBY, WHEN THE MEMBER IS ROTATED UNIDIRECTIONALLY, THE PORTIONS OF THE TUBE BETWEEN THE INTERMEDIATE CLAMP AND THE RESPECTIVE INLET AND OUTLET CLAMPS, ARE ALTERNATELY BENT AND EXTENDED TO FORM BENDS WHICH SHIFT ALONG THE TUBE AND TO OPEN SUCH BENDS IN A SEQUENCE TO CAUSE A FLUID FLOW FROM SAID INLET PORTION TO SAID OUTLET PORTION, THE MAXIMUM SPACING BETWEEN SAID INTERMEDIATE CLAMP AND THE RESPECTIVE INLET AND OUTLET CLAMPS IN EACH REVOLUTION OF SAID MEMBER BEING GREATER THAN THE LENGTHS OF THE TUBE BETWEEN SUCH CLAMPS IN THE RELAXED CONDITION OF THE TUBE SO THAT EACH TUBE LENGTH IS STRETCHED LONGITUDINALLY AS THE LENGTH IS EXTENDED TO OPEN THE BEND IN THE LENGTH. 